Display device.



0. L` SMITH.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 19. 1'912.

1 1 61,902. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0. I.. SMITH.

DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I9. I9I2.

1,161,902. Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

InLuAIBI/I PLANOGIAPM ca.. vmnxm'oa. D. c.

OSCAR Il. SMITH, OF GRAND RAPIDS, IlIClI-IIGAN.V

DISPLAY :envien Specification of Letters Patent.

`atented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 19, 1912. Serial No. 764,697.

T all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, @seen L. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids. in the county of Kent and tate of lilichigan, have invented an Improvement in Display levices, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numbers Von the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to display c vices and more particularly to such devices as are employed to display merchandise, such as ready-made garments, in stores and the like.

In devices of this general character it is desire le that a case or cabinet be employed and that it be formed in large part, at least, of glass. rotatable rack has heretofore been mounted for movement to and from a position within the case or cabinet, so'that when in outer position the rack, upon which the merchandise or garments were supported, could be rotated to bring all parts of the vrack to the front for convenient inspection of the garments thereon, and when in inner position the doors of the case or cabinet could be closed to protect the goods from dust, dirt, and unauthorized handling.

As pointed out in myV prior Patent No. 987183, dated March 2l, 19l1, economy of door space consumption and other considerations dictate that the rack be of rectangular form and that the case or cabinet be of proper size to permit the rack to be economically housed within it when in inner position and to rotate, that is to turn three hundred and sixty degrees, as many times Vas desired when in front position. In a Yconstructionr of this general character it was found that if free rotative movement of the rack, kwhich was desirable at the vfront of the case,k be permitted as the rack was being moved toyand from, its inner position, iniury to the case might result, and especially would this be true when the rack was loaded with garments. To obviate this objection and yet preserve the free rotative movement of the rack when'in ,front position, my prior patent provided that means be employed to control such free rotative movement as the rack was4 being moved to or from its inner position. so that such, means, regardless of i'tsparticular details, would always prevent the rack from striking 'the ease or cabinet;

This feature of the said prior patent protected theV case or cabinet from injury by preventing the rack or any part thereof from striking the case or cabinet', as the rack was being moved to and from its inner posi-V tion. In the present invention, however, it has been found that objectionable injury to the case or cabinet could be prevented by permitting the rack or Vsomepart connected thereto to strike the case or cabinet, provided `means were employed to so control said striking contact as to overcome its injurious character; and with this fact in view the aims and purposes of the presentA invention are to provide a display device of general type hereinbefore noted, wherein a rota-A table rack is movable to and from a position within ai case or cabinet and can be rotated to presentthe goods thereon to inspection when at front position, and wherein also the rack or a part connected thereto or movable with the 'rack is permitted to Strike the case or cabinet as the rack is vmoved to or from its inner position, and means are provided to secure for said contact a yielding of noninjurious character. all of which will best be made clear from the following description and' accompanying drawings of one form of vmeans for carrying the invention into practical effect, 1t being understood that the inventionis not restricted to the described and illustrated details. but in its true'scope is defined by the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front view 'of a display device showing one form or embodiment of the'present invention; Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. l on the line 2 2, also showing in dotted lines a. convenient form of carriage or movable support forthe rack; Fig. 3 is a detail of a modification to be described; Fig. l is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing the rack in another position; Fig. 5 is a detail on an enlarged scale showing features of structure embodied bv the present invention; Fig. 6 is a. detail showing lugs and adjacent parts for supporting the case or cabinet contacting device; and Fig. 7 is a further detail of some of the parts of Fig. 5 showing the'relative position of parts of the contacting'device when one of the parts has engaged and been deflected by the case or cabinet.

lThe case or cabinet may be of appropriate character to contain the rack, and comprises the base 1 surmounted by glass panels 2 at and may be varied within the true scope ot the actual invention. Y

Pivotally mounted to the outerposition of the plunger Ji, as between the lugs 21, 21, Figs. 5 and 6, is the pivotal portion ot the contact device, which, as shown by Figs. 2,

and 5 may comprise the arms 23, 2li, pivoted` at 25. rlhese contact arms are held yieldingly in normal position, indicated by Fig. 5, wherein, each arm has a short eX- tension, on the opposite side ot the pivotal point 25 from its acting end portion, to which is connected one end or" a spring 26 as at il?, the other end 2S of said spring being connected to the extensions ot' the arms A10. `ln order that the'springs 2S may maintain the contact arms in desired normal position, the plunger 1G between the lugs 21,

21, has shoulderedY portions 3G against which the short extensions of the Contact arms are held by said springs.

Each ot the contact arms 23 and 24 is preferably provided with a cushion, such as the rubber or other strip 31, the edge portions oiC which may be let into the edge surfaces ot the Contact arms; and the acting end portions otthese contact arms at 32 are preferably rounded and covered yby the cushions ,31, as indicated,

F rom the construction described, be apparent that when'the rack has been moved to its Jiront position, it may be rotated through as great an angle as desired, and when it is desired to push the rack to its inner position, it may be forced back without first lining the rack up into parallel relation with the case or cabinet. k'In this backward movement, the rack may assume any position relative to the case from parallel therewith to a position at right angles thereto, and it pushed back when not parallel to the case, as for instance, when inclined with reference thereto, as shown by Fig. il, one of the contact arms 23 or 2% will strike the case and yield against the tension ot its spring 26, whereupon said spring 26 will re-act upon the rack through its contact arm and swing or tend to swing the rack into position indicated by Fig. 2. Should the rack be pushed inward when perpendicular to the back wall of the case or cabinet, both of the contact arms 23 and 24 will contact with the wall of the case adjacent the pivot 25, and thereby press the plunger 16 inward without causing injury to the case, it being noted that the combined strength of the springs 26 is less than the expansive torce ot the spring 19. Thus it will be noted that while the rack or a part connected with the rack may strike the case or cabinet as the rack is moved to or from inner position, means are provided to secure a yielding or non-injurious contact between the case and rack mechanism in whatever position the rack may be with relation to the case when the said contact takes place. Obviously also, should the rack or `part connected thereto strike the case as the rack is being moved to front position, the

saine yielding and non-injurious character .l

ot contact will take place, so that eveny said armv in normal position,y as indicated,

upon the plunger 16. Y l

'Various changes may be made inthe particular means for carrying the i into practical edect within the trueY scope of the invention, as l believe myself to be the iirst to provide adisplay device of the characterdescribed, wherein the rack or a part connected thereto is permitted to strike the' case, and means e provided to secure a x yielding' or non-mqurious contact 1 between ithe case and the rack, or rack mechanism, in

whatever position the` rack may be'when-said contact takes place. .A

mat is claimed is 1. ln a display device, the combination ot a case, a rotatable rack having supporting bars movable to and from a position within the case, guards secured to the end portions vention t the rotatable rack, Contact arms ezitend- Y ing beyond the rack guards and at greater radial distance from the axis ot rotation of the-rack than the ends of the supporting bars, `and means for supporting said contact arms yieldingly tromthe rotatable rack to permit said arms to yieldingly contact with i the case when the rack is moved into the case inany position other than parallel to the back wall of the case.

2. In a display device, the combination ot a case or cabinet, a rotatable rack movable to and from a position within the case or cabinet and comprising parallel supporting rods, contact members extending longitudinally beyond the ends ot the supporting rods, and means for sustaining said Contact members for yielding movement in a direction longitudinally of said supporting rods i and Jfor swinging movement about a center normally beyond the ends of said rods.

3. In a display device, the combination of a case, a rotatable rack movable into and out ot the case, guards secured to the rack, pivotally mounted Contact arms extending beyond the ends and sides of the rack to contact with the case should the rack be moved inward in any position other than parallel to the back Wall of the case, and

Y l `Vtative positionV othei` than parallel to the nam'e'-to this speeificatiomrin thepresenoe' f4 i *message means for. yieldinglyeonne'eting. said con# QTalnadisplay device, the'.c fombination;V Y tactarmswiththe'rack.':l jv ,l Y caseoi cabinet, araelgyrotatableWitlii'e rin*a'displaydevice, the combination of sp'eet tliefeto,a'yielding ,support carried" i afcase, ,aifotatable raelhavingV suppoitng ther back- '-:ton'yieldingfmovement inria'vdi 5 baitsy and movable into andout. of the case, tionlongitu'dinally. of therackfand Vy y yieldingyarms.projecting laterally from the ing -Contaetiarins piotallyirmounted onsal rack-ata Agreater radial, distance from the Y yielding support. axiszoi'otation ,ofgtlie rack than the ends of 8,111 a displaydeyice,theg'oombination oliV the supporting bars, a 'support Vfor said aca/se, aTOtatableaekvmovableto andfrom H140. vyielding arms;angdyieldingmeans between a position within the Lease and `compri Y saids'uppoit 'and tlie'rael; "that saidai'ms Vparallel goods supporting rods, a'plunggw 50. may-yieldabont saidsupport when brought yieldingly mounted for movement rotativelyy Y into contaet'with tlfiewalls of tbe ease as. with. and longitudinally of said supporting .thefrack ismovedinward diagonally and to rods, a Contact a-rmj pivotally mountedson;Y 15 bodily yeld v with said support `when `saidplungeiand extending-laterally'ofjsaidg brought into vContact With the `Case as 'the supporting-rods, and, means foi yieldingl-yf i'aek Yisfmoved inward at right angles tothe -liolding 'said Contact arm inoperative posi. "back of theoase. N i l f tion. Q Y f In a display device, the Combination 0I" 7 9; In a display devioe,ktlie combinationof? a 20 a ease on cabinet, a Tack rotatable 'withie-A a rc asejoliV cabinet,y a i'otatablef'iiaek moveable', i soestthereto,y yielding arms pivotally oa'- to' and from a. position Witbinfj'said caseor 6 viied byl the racland adapted to Contact with eabinetand having parallel goofds support the ease orcabinet 'when vthe rack is moved mgl-ods, a Contact device' qomprisinganjarm Y bodilyinward in any rotative position otheif extending laterallyof thesupporting rods,v i 25 than parallel with the back wall 'of the. case aLsupportngmember toiwlni'eli saidarm'isz i onabinet, sa'idfai'ms being mounted *foi* piwota-lly connected,'andi-neans actinggontbj Ybold movement'longitulinallyvof the rack. the suppoiting membeij noimally'maing 6. splayraek, tl eombinationof a t 'n fsa-id Contact armjbeyndthe ends ofthe' d Case oi'fe netgf'a i'a; fotatable Witliffre-ff ll snpooiting rods andgpermitting" speen*thereto7H eontact aimsoarried Vby the sai'dgeontaot-arm to. yieldfbodilyi a direcl 'ifafl'an'dfa'clapted to Contact Wjtli theY ease tionflong'itudinallyofsaid rods. j when the rack is movedrinwa'din anyio- In testimony whereof, .I hayelisignedmyi back Wall of the case cabinet, said oontwosubscribing. Witnesses.v Y l Y 35 tact arms being' yiel ingly mounted for 'Y Y Tp, bodily movement longitudinallyT of the iacl Y OSCAR L-SM*THC and having end portions adapted to Vyield Witnessesu Y v and movein the aroof a circle when they' A BnRTnAF. Hnosnn, i l Y contactrwithy the Wall of the case. iflRnDnnioiSf. GREESLEAF.

Copies of; this patent may be obtained for vecents each', by addressing the *Quinmissione;051'?Patents,v Y Washington, I). C. n 

